Process Encyclopaedia
Laser processing (generic)
Overview
Although lasers are often thought of as "sci-fi", they are a surprisingly versatile tool in manufacturing and can be used for:
- Cutting of most metals (up to 30mm thick) and woods. Over 75% of lasers are currently used for sheet metal cutting as they can provide accurate cuts at high speeds. Because there is no contact, it doesn’t matter how hard the material is and there is no tool wear.
- Welding of most metals up to 20mm thick without the need for a filler. They can also be used for high speed spot welding (used for Gillette razors).
- Drilling of burr-free precision holes with no further finishing required. A common application is the cooling holes in turbine blades – it can be over 20x faster than competing techniques.
- Surface hardening of steel component - see transformation hardening for further details.
Other applications include paint removal and rapid prototyping. Industrial lasers start at about £100,000, but because they are very flexible and easily automated they can often prove cost-effective.
Laser Cutting
External links
Lumonics are a laser manufacturer and have some information on the history of lasers and their applications.